Uniform nameplate



L. COLEMAN UNIFORM NAMEPLATE Filed July 15, 1958 Sept. 8, 1959 Leslie Coleman INVENTOR.

BY M406?- udflwuy 3M United States Patent UNIFORM NAMEPLATE Leslie Coleman, San Pedro, Calif., assignor to Ken Nolan, Incorporated, San Clemente, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,754

2 Claims. (Cl. 411-15) The present invention generally relates to an identification device and more particularly to a name plate for use on uniforms in which the name or other identifying insignia is easily discernible and extremely neat in appearance.

There have been many types of devices for attaching military insignia to articles of clothing. One problem that has always existed is the accidental engagement of these devices with various projections during normal wear which usually results in a torn uniform. Also, there is provided certain insignia having a cloth or fabriclike backing which has been used extensively for the imprinting of a name or other information for identifying the wearer. The flexibility of the device renders the same relatively difiicult to read, especially at a distance. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rigid uniform nameplate which is easily discernible even at a distance and which is attached by a novel attaching means which will release itself automatically upon exertion of a predetermined stress which is less than the tearing point of the uniform thus preventing accidental tearing of the uniform due to the automatic release of the fastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a uniform nameplate constructed of a pheonolic having a high glass finish in a choice of colors with the name or other identifying indicia in clear white lettering against the high gloss background.

A further object of the present invention is to provide fastening means attached to the nameplate by a special adhesive which is disrupted by a predetermined pull or pressure thus releasing the nameplate and protecting the article of clothing from tearing.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully here inafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the uniform nameplate of the present invention installed in the usual position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially upon -a plane passing along section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and being enlarged to illustrate the relationship of the nameplate to the uniform;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the front of the nameplate; and

Figure 4 is a group perspective view from the rear of the nameplate.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the device of the present invention which is mounted on an article of outer wear outer garment of a uniform.

The device includes a generally rectangular rigid nameplate 14 having a border 16 and lettering 18 thereon. The name plate 14 may have squadron insignia or any other insignia designating a particular organization glued to the front lower surface or to one end thereof with the insignia being designated by the numeral 20 and being optional.

In the rear surface of the plate 14 there is provided a pair of depressions, recesses or sockets 22 for receiving the heads 24 of pointed fasteners or pins 26 similar to thumb tacks which are inserted through the layers of cloth 28 forming the uniform garment and receiving an anchor generally designated by the numeral 30 which includes a pair of squeeze tabs 32 which are resilient in nature and which when squeezed together will form an opening for receiving pointed fastener 26 and which when released will frictionally grip the same. This type of fastener is a known type in that it is the type illustrated and described in Patent No. 2,551,196 to F. A. Ballou, .lr., issued May 1, 1951.

Securing the headed end 24 of the pointed fastener 26 in the recess 22 is an adhesive material or glue 34 which is of a special nature and which will release the pins when a pull of approximately 15 pounds has been exerted against the nameplate 14 thereby saving the garment.

The recesses 22 are gouged out or otherwise formed in the rear surface of the nameplate since the glue would not work on the material unless the smooth hard surface thereof is drilled out and roughened, which provide a hold for the glue. Thus, the pins are not permanently adhered to the nameplate and the nameplate itself is constructed of a pheonolic plastic or resin in which the letters are cut out and the border is cut out so that the letters will show in white while the background will be one of several different colors such as black, brown, red, blue, yellow and grey and the nameplate is extremely durable and neat in appearance on the uniform with the name being clear against a back ground of high gloss pheonolic which may be easily read at a distance. A glue that has been used successfully is one produced by The Webb Products Co., of San Bernardino, California, under the trademark of Arrowhead" and the plastic is produced by The Formica Co.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A nameplate comprising: a plate for application to one side of a garment, and means for detachably securing said plate on the garment, said means including a pin for penetrating the garment, an anchor detachably secured on one end portion of said pin for engagement with the other side of the garment, and means of less holding strength than said anchor releasably securing the other end of the pin to the plate.

2. A nameplate comprising: a plate for application to one side of a garment, said plate including a back having a depression therein, and means for detachably securing the plate on the garment, said means including a pin for penetrating the garment, a head on one end of said pin seated in the depression, an anchor removably mounted on the other end portion of the pin for engagement with the other side of the garment, and an adhesive releasably securing the head in the depression and of "a holding strength less than that ofthe anchor. References Cited inthe file of this patent U HEP- TATE EN 2,088,689 :Chemew Aug. 3, 1937 Murphy Apr. 29, 1958 Klitzner Mar. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 28, 1934 

